Automobile-cap



J. D". McNEILL AUTOMOBILE CAP.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-9, 19H. RENEWED MAR- 15, I920.

Patented Oct. 26, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

a U 1 W 5 a J. D. McNElLL.

AUTOMOBILE CAP.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-9, I917. RENEWED MAR. 15, 1920.

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Wea /"egg UNITED STATES JOHN D. McNEILL, or LAWRENCE, KANSAS.

AUTOMOBILE-GAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 26, 1920.

Application filed August 9, 1917, Serial No. 185,319. Renewed March 15, 1920. Serial No. 366,040.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN D. MCNEILL, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Lawrence, Kansas, in the county of Douglas and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobile-Caps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved cap especially designed for use by automobilists and has as its primary object to provide a construction wherein the cap will be equipped with an eye shield which will normally be held in position out of the way beneath the vizor of the cap and which may, when desired, be moved to position in front of the eyes for protecting the eyes from dust and dirt as well as shading the eyes from the light.

The invention has as a further object to provide a cons ruction wherein the eye shield of the cap will be equipped with a dimmer or translucent strip of colored ma terial for effectually shading the eyes.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a construction wherein the eye shield will be equipped with cheek flaps which may, when desired, be arranged to overlie the cheeks ofthe wearer to protect the face against the rays of the sun as well as against the elements.

The invention has as a further object to provide a cap wherein the sweat hand thereof will be expansible so that an ordinary type of cap may be used to meet the requirements of different sized caps.

And the invention has as a still further object to provide a cap which will be neat and attractive in appearance and which will have the appearance of an ordinary cap.

Other and incidental objects will appear as the description proceeds and in the drawings wherein I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the eye shield of my improved cap arranged in position to come in frontof the eyes oft the wearer with the cheek flaps dlsposed to overlie the cheeks, this view also showing a face protector which may be employed in connection with the cap.

Fig. .2 is a sectional view more particularly illustrating the disposition of the eye shield when arranged in inactive position beneath the vizor of the cap,

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the eye shield particularly illustrating the dimmer carried by the' said shield as well as the cheek flaps connected to the shield, and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation illustrating the gussets in the sides of the cap and the expansible connections employed at the said gussets whereby the sweat band of the cap may be expanded.

In carrying out the invention, I employ a cap body 10 which, in its general features, may be of any approved character. This cap body is equipped with the ordinary vizor 11. At opposite sides thereof the cap body is provided with gussets 12 at the free margin of the said body and arranged within t e cap body is a sweat band 13 of a length to compensate for the gussets 12. At opposite sides of the gussets 12, the cap body is formed with openings 13 and threaded through these openings beneath the sweat band 13 are elastic cords 14c, looped at their ends around buttons 15 arranged adjacent to the said openings. The cords 14 thus provide expansible connections between opposite sides of the gussets so that the sweat band may be egrpanded against the tension of the said connections and the size of the cap thus enlarged to fit the heads of various different users.

Connected inany approved manner to the vizor 11 at its inner margin is an eye shield 16 of a contour at its outer edge conforming tothe contour of the outer edge of the vizor. However, as particularly shown in Fig.3 of the drawings, the eye shieldis, for a purpose which shall presently appear, provided with a straight inner edge. The eye shield 16 is preferably formed of celluloid and is transparent. Sewed or otherwise secured to the inner edge of the eye shield is a dimmer 17 This dimmer is also preferably formed of celluloid and is translucent, being of a color darker than that of the eye shield. The dimmer 17 is formed with a straight inner edge registering with the inner edge of the eyeshield and is provided with a curved outer edge. Formed through the dimmer as well as through the eye shield is a series of ventilating openings 18. As will be observed upon reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings, the eye shield 16 is normally arranged in inactive position against the under side of the vizor '11 of the cap and detachably connecting the outer free extremity of the eye shield with the vizor is asnap fastener 19.

Sewed or otherwise secured to the outer margin of the eye shield 16 are complemental cheek flaps 20. These flaps are preferably formed of suitable cloth and are arranged to normally lie against the under side of the eye shield to cover the major portion thereof. As illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the flaps 20 are provided with straight end. edges which meet at a point substantially midway the ends of the shield.

As will now be seen, the shield 16may be disconnected at its free extremity from the vizor 11 of the cap and swung downwardly against the tension of the elastic cords 14 to active position, as illustrated in Fig. l of the drawings, arranged in front of the eyes of the wearer of the cap with the inner face of the shield at its upper margin resting against the forehead. Since the eye shield is formed with a straight inner edge, the said shield will, by being bowed longitudinally when thus swung downwardly, lie close against the face over the eyes to be held in such position by the elasticity of the cords 14 for consequently excluding any dust or dirt. 'Vhen the eye shield has been moved to active position, the cheek flaps 20 are then swung outwardly and downwardly, as illustrated in Fig. l of the drawings, to overlie the cheeks of the wearer. These flaps will consequently protect the cheeks against the rays of the sun as Well as against the elements. At the same time clear vision may be had through the eye shield and in this connection, it will be observed that the dimmer 17 will be arranged directly above the eyes to consequently shade the eyes against excessive light. When it is desired to again move the shield to inactive position it may be easily tilted upwardly, when the contraction of the cords 14 will act to swin the shield against the cap vizor and yiel dably hold the said shield thereagainst.

I therefore provide a very simply con structed cap embodying'an exceedingly convenient arrangement for protecting the face and eyes. Furthermore, the eye shield and cheek flaps employed are so arranged that when these elements are disposed in their normal inactive position, they will be entirely out of the way while the cap will have the appearance of an ordinary artomobile cap.

In Fig. l of the drawings, I have shown the use of a face protector 21 in connection with my improved cap, this face protector being covered by Letters Patent No. 1,035,217 and owned by me. A detail description of the face protector in the present instance is accordingly believed unnecessary. How ever, it is to be observed that the said pro tector is, for the greater portion of the length of its upper edge, sewed or otherwise secured beneath the sweat band at the inner edge of the cap vizor 11 and is arranged to fit over the face beneath the eye shield 16 for efficiently protecting the face. At the free extremities of the upper edge of the vizor are arranged snaps 22 adapted to engage within sockets 23 secured upon the inner face of the sweat band 13 for holding the protector in position fitting over the ears of the wearer. \Vhen not in use, the protector 21 may be folded within the forward portion of the cap overlying the vizor 11, as illustrated in Fig. 2, so that the said protector will be out of the way.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In cap construction, a cap body having a vizor, and a shield normally lying beneath the vizor and having a straight inner edge secured to the inner portion of the vizor, said shield being movable to active position extending downwardly from the vizor with the inner margin of the shield curved longitudinally to conform to the forehead of the wearer.

2. In cap construction, a cap body having a vizor, a shield normally lying beneath the vizor and movable to active position bowed longitudinally to project downwardly from the vizor, and resilient means carried by the cap body for yieldably holding the shield bowed.

In cap construction, the combination with a cap body provided with a vizor and having expansible means associated with the sweat-band thereof, of a shield normally lying beneath the vizor and movable to active position bowed longitudinally to project downwardly therefrom and held in such position by said expansible means.

4. In cap construction, a cap body having a vizor, a shield secured to and normally lying beneath the vizor and having a straight inner edge, a dimmer secured to the shield and having a straight inner edge registering with the straight inner edge of said shield, said shield and dimmer being provided with registeringopenings, a fastening device for normally holding the free end of the shield against the lower face of the vizor and expansible means carried by the cap body for holding the inner edge of the shield against the forehead of the wearer when the fastening device is released and the shield swung downwardly to active position beneath the vizor.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JOHN D. MoNEILL. 

